Topic: history

When I first heard that Washington lawmakers proposed a law that would require public schools to teach Native American history, culture and government, my reaction was: why? This is 2015, not 1950! How is it possible that Washington – my dear, progressive home state – could be failing to teach important aspects of state history? Well,…

In the National Statuary Hall version of “The Bachelor,” Marcus Whitman would be a big winner. As depicted by his statue, the missionary doctor from Walla Walla had rippled thighs, a buckskin shirt tight across his abs and a hipster beard. Narcissa Whitman would’ve been thrilled, had she not been killed by Cayuse Indians. That statue would…